Kim Kardashian gave world 'middle finger' with baby-weight loss

By Nardine Saad

Oct. 31, 2013 12:06 PM PT

Hey, world. Kim Kardashian just gave you the middle finger. Did you flinch?

It just happened to be in the form of her rotund backside squeezed into a skimpy white swimsuit. Or so she said.

The recently engaged “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star appeared on “The Tonight Show” on Wednesday to talk a little bit about the headlines swirling around her, her fiance Kanye West and her high-profile family. More specifically, she addressed that sultry selfie that made heads spin following her 50-pound weight loss after giving birth to daughter North West in June.

PHOTOS: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

“I was trying on a bathing suit, and I actually just sent that to my boyfriend, my fiancé, and I was like, ‘Babe, can I post this up? This is my big, like, middle finger to the world on everyone that called me fat,’” Kardashian, 33, told Jay Leno.

The Kardashian brand builder, whose body makes headlines whether it’s big or small, was constantly bashed during her pregnancy for gaining weight.

“It really hurt my soul, like it changed how I am in the public a little bit,” she said. “I was gaining weight because I was pregnant, and it was just really hard to read all these stories and hear all these nasty things.”

The reality star took a break from the spotlight after giving birth and stayed with mother Kris Jenner as she lost weight and spent quality time with her daughter.

PHOTOS: Kim Kardashian’s relationships and flings

“I kind of just wanted to adjust my life a little bit because why would I subject myself to so much negativity, especially now that I have a daughter? I just don’t need that energy,” she explained. “I’d rather be in a happy place when I’m home. I choose to go out with family and friends when I want to but I’ve definitely tried to live more of a private life because of that, because they were so nasty. Why even go out that much just to put yourself in that position?”

OK, we can get on board with that. No one likes being called fat. As for how she lost the weight? Kardashian said it wasn’t easy.

“I will say it was the hardest challenge of my life and I was dedicated and I was motivated and I did the Atkins diet,” she said. “So I tried it, it worked for me. At the beginning, I couldn’t exercise a whole lot but then I started going on hikes with different family members and my boyfriend, everyone that would go on the hike with me. And it worked.”

On Oct. 21 -- Kardashian’s 33rd birthday -- the Grammy-winning rapper and baby daddy proposed to the starlet at AT&T Park in San Francisco with an enormous 15-carat cushion-cut engagement ring and, naturally, Leno asked her about her wedding plans.

PHOTOS: Meet the Kardashians

“We’re hoping for next summer,” Kardashian said. “We’re a little busy. I’m enjoying just being engaged, and I think were gonna get through [his ‘Yeezus’] tour and really talk about when and where.”

The reality star, wearing an inexplicable sheer white lace dress from Dolce & Gabbana over a black bra and panties, said they may look into a “destinational” venue like Paris or Italy (because that’s where she got pregnant.) Yeah, TMI.

“Maybe I’ll pick the place and then he can plan it. We’ll compromise,” she said, adding that her step-dad, Olympian Bruce Jenner, would walk her down the aisle.

The former sex tape star also said that she would tack on her future husband’s last name to be more of a family, a tradition she staunchly didn’t observe in her second marriage to basketball player Kris Humphries.

“I’m definitely going to have Kim and Kardashian as my middle name,” she said. “My daughter has the last name West and we’re a family so I want it to definitely be West.”

She also said that she hopes her “sweetest little girl” “grows up to be opinionated and smart like her dad.” (Yeah, because he wouldn’t make up a word like destinational” or constantly say “doing good.”)

PHOTOS: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Kardashian’s E! reality show, which chronicles the misadventures of her extended family, is currently in its eighth season and midway through filming Season 9. But don’t expect to see her baby girl or fiance to much on the show.

“We’re really respectful. It’s definitely hard because I chose to live my life on a reality show,” she said. “So when I’m dating someone I can’t say, ‘Hey, wait, if you want to date me you have to be on the show.’ It just doesn’t work like that. Sometimes if he’s comfortable he’ll be on. I’ll definitely talk about my life or my dating life with him because that’s my reality. But you can’t have someone on if they don’t want to be on all the time.”

Leno also questioned his ultra-calm guest (was this thing staged or what?) about her mom’s recent split from her step-dad. The pair announced earlier this month that they separated after 22 years of marriage and have been living in separate homes. No word yet on whether or not they’re divorcing.

Kardashian said it’s “for the better in the best way. They’re better living in two separate homes. It works. They get along better. They’re better friends now.”

She went on to call them the “biggest, most happiest dysfunctional family.”

As for her sister Khloe Kardashian, whose marriage to basketball player Lamar Odom has been plagued with drug and infidelity rumors, Kardashian simply said her younger sister is “doing good” and that the most important thing is for her to “be happy.”

Well, she did say she’s the happiest she’s ever been right now. Here’s hoping it’s contagious.